Business

COLUMBIA – Not since the roaring Reagan economy has small-business optimism been as high as it was in November, and S.C. business owners share that sentiment, the National Federation of Independent Business said Tuesday.

“We haven’t seen this kind of optimism in 34 years, and we’ve seen it only once in the 44 years that NFIB has been conducting this research,” said NFIB President Juanita Duggan, releasing the group’s Index of Small Business Optimism.

CLEMSON – Clemson University this month announced the creation of its Center for Advanced Manufacturing, the centerpiece of the university’s commitment to education, research, innovation and workforce development in an industry sector crucial to South Carolina’s future.

From 2011-16, manufacturing job growth in South Carolina increased 16 percent, and manufacturing now accounts for 11 percent of the state’s total employment.

“Breathtaking” is not a word normally applied to tire manufacturing, but that’s what U.S. Sen. Tim Scott called the Giti Tire plant outside Richburg on Monday.

Scott, a Republican from Charleston, got a firsthand look at the economic progress in Chester County as he toured the facility, which plans to employ 1,700 over the next few years, and spoke to some of the workers and officials there.

Pat Dennis is no stranger to the antiques business.
The West Virginia native has over 26 years of experience under her belt, managing multiple stores and acquiring collectibles.
And now, she is setting up shop in a 1,500-square-foot store in downtown Heath Springs.
Two Peas in a Pod, at 113 N. Main St., is holding a grand opening at 11 a.m. Thursday, sponsored by the Kershaw Chamber of Commerce.
The business’s name refers to Pat and Will Dennis – the husband and wife who own the store.

Eager shoppers lined up before dawn to be the first in the newly remodeled Lancaster Aldi store. The line of people stretched to the far end of the store wall and over into the parking lot.
By 8:15 a.m., all the parking spaces were filled at the 1201 Old Charlotte Road location, just north of S.C. 9 Bypass. People started parking in neighboring lots and walking over to the store, just to get in line. Others parked on the grass, out of the way of traffic.

GREENVILLE – Duke Energy is investing $3 billion over the next decade in South Carolina to strengthen the energy grid against storm damage and cyberattacks.
The program – Power/Forward Carolinas – will consist of upgrades that will harden the system against storms and outages, further protect it against computer hackers and physical threats, help expand renewable energy, generate jobs and stimulate economic growth. It will also give 740,000 customers in the Palmetto State more information to manage their energy use.

Synteen Technical Fabrics celebrated its 20th anniversary in Lancaster County last Saturday with an appreciation day for its employees, their families and retirees.

Guests included S.C. Rep. Brandon Newton (R-45), Lancaster County Council member Larry Honeycutt and John McCain of the Lancaster County Economic Development Department. Honeycutt presented Synteen President Glenn Steen a proclamation from county council declaring Oct. 23, 2017, Synteen Day in Lancaster County.